27 August 2021

FODO member update - 27 August

This week:

• Scotland to invest more in primary care
• NHS England outlines PCN plans
• PCSE update
• OFNC confirms return of patient signatures in England
• GOC commissions Sector Partnership for Optical Knowledge and Education
• Eye health week 20 to 26 September
• Use of CE mark extended until 2023
• Other sector news

Scotland to invest more in primary care

This week, the Scottish government published its NHS Recovery Plan. The plan commits to increasing investment in primary care by 25% and sets out a vision for enhancing primary care specialist services.
 
It states the intention to reform "the way in which eye care services are delivered, with a focus on managing significantly more patients in the community instead of in hospital". One goal is to "reduce demand for acute services - freeing up capacity in the acute sector".
 
The government has also said it will invest £2 million annually for "a range of innovative projects, including a new National Low Vision service for visually impaired people provided by accredited community optometrists and dispensing opticians; enabling more complex anterior eye conditions to be managed by Independent Prescriber optometrists; and stable glaucoma and treated ocular hypertension patients to be discharged from hospital into the management of accredited community optometrists".
 
There is also a commitment to invest £200,000 to "pilot enhanced community audiology services, and we aim to develop community hearing services that are on a par with primary care services by the end of this parliament". 

NHS England outlines PCN plans

NHS England has outlined its plans for Primary Care Networks (PCNs), identifying five priorities: improving prevention and tackling health inequalities in the delivery of primary care; supporting better patient outcomes in the community through proactive primary care; supporting improved patient access to primary care services; delivering better outcomes for patients on medication, and creating a more sustainable NHS. 

PCSE update

PCSE online has now confirmed it will migrate to a new data centre between 7pm on Saturday 11 September and 10am on Sunday 12 September. PCSE Online will be unavailable during these times. You can review its Business Continuity Guidance for how to manage during the downtime.

This upgrade is part of system improvements PCSE has made following user feedback. PCSE has also confirmed that eye care providers are "no longer experiencing system latency in the late afternoons". Members who have any input about PCSE Online or need additional support can email us at [email protected]

OFNC confirms return of patient signatures in England

This week, the OFNC confirmed that the Covid-19 suspension of the requirement for patient signatures on GOS forms would end on 31 August 2021. It means that all GOS forms must have patient signatures from Wednesday 1 September. Read the complete statement.

GOC commissions Sector Partnership for Optical Knowledge and Education

The GOC has commissioned Sector Partnership for Optical Knowledge and Education (SPOKE). SPOKE will establish a knowledge hub/information exchange to enable knowledge-led collaborations within the optical sector to meet the GOC's updated requirements for qualification approval.

The College of Optometrists is the lead partner for SPOKE and will be supported by the Association of British Dispensing Opticians (ABDO), Optometry Schools Council (OSC) and bodies from across the sector, including FODO, to deliver projects, online resources and networking activities. Learn more. 

Eye health week 20 to 26 September

This year's National Eye Health Week (NEHW) will take place from 20 to 26 September and will promote the importance of good eye health and the need for regular eye tests for all. Get involved. 

Use of CE mark extended until 2023

Businesses now have until 1 January 2023 before they must use the UKCA mark for products. However, the government decision means that firms can continue to use the EU's CE mark for the extended period. The CE mark certifies that products meet EU safety standards.  Read more. 

Other sector news

The GOC has approved a College proposal for additional IP mentors. It means registered independent prescribers can sign off individual clinical practice placement sessions for IP trainees.
 
The College of Optometrists has updated two of its Covid-19 FAQs:

• I occasionally work in a care home. Is it a requirement to have a Covid-19 vaccination?
• Someone in my household has been diagnosed with Covid-19 following a PCR test. I have no symptoms, a negative PCR and LFT. Can I continue to work in optometry practice?

DHSC seeks recruits for PPE engagement panels

The Department of Health & Social Care is seeking panel recruits for new Optometry PPE engagement panels that it's creating to gather feedback on PPE provision experiences during Covid. The goal is to improve the DHSC PPE cell's service. Each panel meeting takes an hour every month. To express an interest, email the DHSC Optometry team. Please include your name, role, and panel preference.
 
Catch up on a GOC webinar on its fitness to practice process.